If the consular officer is unable to obtain from the applicant all the necessary information about him or her, the visa application may declare unsuccessfully. The consular official won’t be able to determine whether the applicant qualifies for a visa if they don’t have this information. On the other hand, sometimes the consular might get information from the applicant that is unacceptable or beyond the fixed procedures. Sometimes the candidate is prone to illegitimate and/or dishonest activities. In all of the aforementioned cases, the officer is led to DENY offering a visa to the applicant.

With the Schengen visa fees increased from 60 Euros to 80 Euros per visa, applicants should be careful when submitting their visa applications to avoid rejection. Moreover, the visa fees will not be refunded if the Schengen visa application is rejected.

if you know what to do after the rejection of a visa then read my other article What to do if your Visa is Denied.

Here are 8 of the most common reasons for Schengen visa rejections—and how to avoid them:

1. Purpose of Visit is Not Clear :

There are a dozen reasons your Schengen visa could be refused; this one reads “justification for the purpose and the conditions of the intended stay was not provided.” In your application, you must explain why you want to travel to the Schengen zone and the documents you submit should corroborate this explanation.

How to Avoid This :

Attach a cover letter with your application that answers the W5H questions: Who will you travel with or visit? What will you do in the Schengen zone? When are you planning to travel? Where will you stay during your trip? Why do you want to travel? How will you fund your stay?

Ensure that your documents back up what you write in this cover letter. If you’re presenting at a conference, be sure to attach your letter of acceptance and a copy of the hotel reservation near the conference center.

For people who are visiting family, be sure to provide evidence of a relationship or a letter from your relative with a copy of their identification.

If tourism is taking you to the Schengen zone, write about the sites you want to see and book tours in the cities you plan to visit.

2. You haven’t Demonstrated Proof of Funds :

This reason for rejection reads that “you have not provided proof of sufficient means of subsistence, for the duration of the intended stay or for the return to the country of origin or residence.” You must be able to prove that you have enough savings or access to funds to finance your travel and stay in the Schengen area—in its entirety—and for your return home.

The ‘means of subsistence’ vary depending on the country you are making your application to and the intended accommodations (hotel versus budget accommodation). In general, consulates will calculate a country-specific daily living expenses rate, which they will expect you to afford. This ranges from €14 per day when applying through the Latvian Embassy to €92 per day when applying via Switzerland.

How to Avoid This :

There are several ways to demonstrate proof of funds for a Schengen visa. You must be able to present recent financial statements (within one month), a credit card statement with a sufficient available limit, traveler’s checks bearing your name, payslips and proof of employment, or supporting documents that attest to a sponsor’s willingness and ability to cover your expenses.

The authorities will also assess your projected living costs based on your responses to critical application questions, such as where you are going to stay and what you are going to be doing in the Schengen area.

For example, if you state you intend to stay at a friend’s house throughout your stay in the Schengen area, you will likely need less money than if you plan on staying at a hotel every night. 

Keep in mind that evidence of prepaid accommodation and transportation will reduce the amount required for subsistence.

3. You Presented a False or Unreliable Travel Document :

If a “false/counterfeit/forged travel document was presented,”; or “The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable” or “Lack of proof of flight booking; accommodation booking or the itinerary for each Schengen country” you are certain to be denied a Schengen visa. Understand that the Embassy officials will check up on your itinerary by calling hotels and confirming that your flights are legitimate. Not only will this earn you an automatic rejection. But it will also make you seem untrustworthy in future Schengen visa applications.

How to Avoid This :

If you don’t want to risk the money booking flights and accommodation before your Schengen visa is approve. Provide all the correct detail to the embassy and its proper documentation. No risk of losing money on flights and hotels.

4. Your Travel Insurance Coverage is Insufficient :

Keep in mind that you must provide “proof of holding an adequate and valid travel medical insurance” to successfully get your Schengen visa. Travel insurance is a requirement to be approved; and your insurance must cover hospital treatment; and repatriation to your home country or country of residence. The policy must be valid in all countries of the Schengen area and must cover your entire stay.

How to avoid this :

Choose an accurate insurance policy that will ensure covers enough of the anticipated expenses; should an accident happen on your travels. Submit the original documentation—and don’t cancel your policy after you send in your application!

5. The Embassy Official Not Convinced of your Intention to Return :

Another cause for rejection is the visa official is not confident you will be returning to your home country. Officials want to avoid people overstaying their visas and/or working without authorization.

How to Avoid This :

You must provide evidence that you will be returning, and sometimes a return flight is not sufficient. You will have to demonstrate that your business is register in your home country; that you own property, are enroll in school, and have approval for your absence, and so on.

6. Damaged Passport :

A reason for a visa refusal could be presenting a  passport that is not kept in a good condition. Such cases can be when passport pages are detaching or missing. When the cover of the passport is damaged and so on.

7. Passport Invalidity :

An alternative motive to lead the consular officer to deny your visa application is presenting a passport that is not acceptable to the Embassy or Consulate. Such cases are classified into the following:

• Presenting a passport that does not have a valid period less than three (3) remaining months after the return from the visit to the Schengen Area.
• A passport that does not possess two different blank visa pages
• Presenting a Travel Document Booklet instead of a valid passport
• Presenting a valid passport that is older than ten (10) years

8. Criminal Record :

If the applicant has a past or current criminal record, then the visa is refused.